How to Start an Essay With a Bang

March 16, 2016

Okay, so an ear-shattering bang with a fiery-aftermath-type bang isn’t what I’m talking about when I say, “This is how to start an essay with a bang.” (But I bet this adorably suspicious kitten has one heck of a story to tell.)

If you guessed they’re all catchy, clickable headlines, you’re right. These headlines are so unique that you just have to click to read the story.

That’s exactly the effect you want to create when you write your essay introduction.

Here’s how to how to start an essay to create the same effect.

How to Start an Essay With a Bang

You don’t have to write your introduction first.

Sometimes you won’t know how to start until you’ve finished.

I know that might not make sense, but think about it. If you wait until you’ve finished the body of your paper (the key arguments), you have a better understanding of the contents of your paper. This means you can write a better introduction.

The purpose of an introduction

We all know that an introduction is supposed to introduce the paper. But there’s more to it than that.

A good introduction is like a first impression. Imagine meeting your date’s parents, and you’re nothing but a disheveled, bumbling mess. That first impression sticks.

If your essay introduction is that same bumbling mess, filled with typos and a lack of organization, your readers will remember that too.

An introduction also serves as a map to the rest of your paper. It enables readers to see your argument and understand the point of your paper.

This is where a clear thesis statement comes in. Wrap up your opening paragraph(s) with a specific thesis to let readers know exactly what to expect in your paper.

If you end a well-written introduction with a clear, specific thesis statement, how should you start a well-written introduction? Start with a few lines that grab readers’ attention.

The attention grabber

Even though it may sound like it, an attention grabber isn’t a bad made-for-television sci-fi movie like Sharknado. An attention grabber is actually a strategy to not only get people to actually read your paper, but also to hopefully keep them reading.

Four basic strategies on how to start an essay with an attention grabber

1. An intriguing question

Ask a question that you’ll answer in the body of your paper, or ask a question that will get readers thinking about your topic.

Check out these examples:

Have you ever wondered how many chemicals are in your tap water?

Can playing video games make people more intelligent?

Is pizza a vegetable?

Here’s a sample introduction using an intriguing question:

Is pizza a vegetable? In 2011, this question permeated the news, and parents everywhere wondered how congress could declare pizza a vegetable. The truth is that congress did not determine pizza to be a vegetable. The debate involved pizza sauce and how much of the sauce constituted a serving of vegetables. Whether pizza is a vegetable is still up for debate; however, what is not up for debate is the need to provide more healthy options in public school lunches.

2. A funny , interesting, or out-of the ordinary anecdote

Include a brief story about your topic that sets a scene, engages your readers, and gets them involved in the topic.

Here are a few examples:

Imagine a time, long, long ago, before the Internet was invented, when people had to travel to a store to buy something.

A young girl and her brother giggle with joy as they run across the park toward the swings. Sadly, their mother was charged with neglect for letting them play in the park just a block from their home.

Last semester, Andre showed up for chemistry class ready to take notes about the upcoming exam. He was shocked when, at the beginning of the class, the professor instructed everyone to put away their notes to take the exam. To say the least, Andre wasn’t prepared.

Here’s a sample introduction using an anecdote:

Last semester, Andre showed up for chemistry class ready to take notes about the upcoming exam. He was shocked when, at the beginning of the class, the professor instructed everyone to put away their notes to take the exam. To say the least, Andre wasn’t prepared. Unfortunately for Andre, this wasn’t the first time he wasn’t prepared for class. His habit of procrastination and poor organization has left him struggling to catch up on more than one occasion. While it can be difficult to stay focused in college, if students implement three simple steps, they can organize their schedules, be prepared for class, and improve their grades.

3. A shocking or interesting statistic

Using a shocking statistic grabs readers’ attention simply because it’s hard for them to believe the information could be true. They want to keep reading to learn more.

Over 16 million children in the United States live in poverty. These children, rather than enjoying carefree days meant for childhood, feel the burden of adult responsibilities. They often go hungry, worry about where their next meals will come from, and worry whether their families will be evicted again. These children wonder if they’ll soon be living in shelters (or worse yet, living in their cars). With the wealth and resources in the United States, such conditions are inexcusable. Additional funding needs to be allocated to help low-income families.

Maya Angelou wisely said, “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as stating, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

Here’s a sample introduction using a thought-provoking quote:

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as stating, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Any student who has ever neglected to study for a test can attest to this. Many students don’t study because they claim they simply don’t have enough time. While it’s true that colleges students are busy working, participating in sports, attending classes, and studying, the truth is that even busy students need to find time to prepare for class. By using a planner, learning how to study, and scheduling courses appropriately, students can be better prepared and improve their grades.

How to Start an Essay the Wrong Way

Writing introductions isn’t always easy. At times, you might find yourself staring at a blank screen with a severe case of writer’s block. If this happens, don’t write one of the following types of introductions in order to simply have something on paper.

Drew Coffman (flickr.com)

Don’t start with a dictionary definition

It can be tempting (and very easy) to start your essay with something like, “According to Merriam-Webster.com, happiness is a state of well-being and contentment.”

Yeah, it’s an easy way to start your paper, but it certainly isn’t very interesting. Readers already know what happiness means. You don’t need to define it for them.

Keep in mind, if you’re using a definition for a specific term according to a discussion in your class or if you’re defining a complicated term that appears throughout the paper, this strategy may be appropriate.

Don’t write a broad, generalized introduction

You know the type of introduction I’m talking about, the one you write in 22 seconds because you have to get your paper done in no time flat.

It’s the introduction that looks like this:

Imagery allows readers to fully understand and see what the writer is writing about in poetry. It provides readers with a clear vision of what he or she is talking about and is an important element of many poems. Without imagery, writing would be dull and uninteresting. In the poem A Supermarket in California, Allen Ginsberg uses imagery to create a powerful scene.

Nothing about this introduction works. It uses the term “imagery,” but it doesn’t say anything specific about the subject, how it’s used in the poem, or the focus of your paper.

Don’t announce the goal for your paper

Don’t start by telling your readers something like, “This paper will explain how to use shading to draw realistic people.”

This may be an appropriate opening line for an instruction manual. It’s not, however, effective as an opening line for an academic essay.

Rather than announcing your topic, simply incorporate the ideas into a statement. For instance, you might write, “Artists often struggle to create life-like faces in their artwork; however, shading is an important strategy and a key step in creating realistic figures.”

More Bang for Your Buck

But wait…there’s more!

As if all this awesome advice wasn’t enough, here are a few more articles on how to start an essay with a bang.

Susan M. Inez is a professor of English and writing goddess based out of the Northeast. In addition to a BA in English Education, an MA in Composition, and an MS in Education, Susan has 20 years of experience teaching courses on composition, writing in the professions, literature, and more. She also served as co-director of a campus writing center for 2 years.